“That the business in Scotland was well; that the Protector had taken away Colonel Rich’s commission, whereof the officers of his regiment were glad; that many congratulatory petitions to his Highness came from divers counties, one from Bucks; that the Protector proceeded to reformation of the law and ministry, and I hope he will merit as well in that as in the military affairs.  I return your Excellence my humble thanks for your acceptance of my endeavours to serve you; I can say they come from an honest heart, which very really embraceth every opportunity wherein I may manifest myself

“Your Excellence’s faithful humble servant,
“JO.  THURLOE.
“Whitehall, 13th April, 1654.”

Whitelocke received several letters in these packets from Mr. Cokaine; one, dated the 2nd of April, saith thus:—­

“You will have leave from his Highness to take your first opportunity to come away, and I hope it will not be without bringing your business to a happy and an honourable issue, which is the constant subject of our requests to the Lord for you, and I doubt not but we shall have a comfortable answer.  In the meantime I think, as I have hinted to your Excellence in former letters, it will not be amiss if you draw good store of bills upon us, though but pro forma, that we may get as much money for you as we can before your return, and that you may have a sufficient overplus to pay all servants’ wages off, which I believe will amount to a considerable sum; and upon this peace I hope it will be no hard matter to get your bills paid, especially if your Excellence please withal to write to my Lord Protector and Mr. Thurloe and some of the Council about it.  I could wish that you would make what haste you can home, for I am informed by a special hand that there is great labouring to make a Chancellor whilst you are absent, and to take that opportunity to put you by, whom I believe they doubt to be too much a Christian and an Englishman to trust in their service; but I hope God will give you a heart to submit to His will, and to prize a good conscience above all the world, which will indeed stand us in stead when all outward things cannot in the least administer to us.

“Your Excellence’s most humble servant,
“GEO. COKAINE.
“April 2nd.”

In another letter from Mr. Cokaine he saith:—­

“Mr. Thurloe was pleased to acquaint me that it was his Highness and the Council’s pleasure to make some alteration in the Chancery; that it was determined that your Lordship and Sir Thomas Widdrington and my Lord Lisle should have the custody of the Great Seal, and I believe an Act to that purpose will pass within few hours; but I perceive this business was not done without some tugging; but my Lord Protector and John Thurloe are true to you, and now I am out of all fears that any affront should be offered you in your absence.  Mr. Mackworth deserves a letter from you; but nothing, I pray, of this business.  Indeed Mr. Thurloe hath played his part gallantly and like a true friend, for which I shall love him as long as I live.”

In other letters from Mr. Cokaine in this packet, dated 14th April, he saith:—­